Italian Institute of Technology – TechConnect Briefs

Enhanced in vitro testing model for rapid risk assessment of ingested nanomaterials

Carnovale C., Guarnieri D., De Angelis I., Barone F., Sabella S., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

Following advances in the synthesis of manufactured nanomaterials, interest for their inclusion in various consumer products has increased. Due to various factors including their unique optical and antimicrobial properties, likely applications of nanomaterials include textiles, [...]

Targeted delivery of anti-cancer drug sorafenib through magnetic solid lipid nanoparticles

Grillone A., Redolfi Riva E., Moscato S., Sacco R., Mattoli V., Ciofani G., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

The multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib (tradename Nexavar®, Bayer) has been recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of non-resectable hepatocarcinoma and advanced renal carcinoma. Despite its proven survival benefit, sorafenib can lead to important side [...]

In vivo nanotoxicology: Toxicoproteomics

Sabella S., Kote S., Pompa P.P., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

Proteomics applied to nanotechnology is now emerging as an attractive tool to address the still unanswered questions dealing with nano-biointeractions and NPs-induced toxicity in living systems. The unique advantage provided by “omic” techniques (such as, [...]

Cell Culture Media elicit a different dynamic Formation of Protein-NP Complexes: Effects on the Cellular Response

Sabella S., Maiorano G., Sorce B., Brunetti V., Malvindi M.A., Cingolani R., Pompa P.P., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

We show that the dynamics of proteins-NP interactions are differently mediated by different cellular media, which are the liquid environments where NPs encounter cells. We used, as a model, spherical NPs (citrate-capped gold nanoparticles, AuNPs) [...]

In vivo nanotoxicity assessment: the role of size, surface coating, nanostructuration and dose-metrics

Vecchio G., Galeone A., Brunetti V., Maiorano G., Malvindi M.A., Sabella S., Cingolani R., Pompa P.P., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

The growing use of nanomaterials in commercial goods and as novel carriers for drug delivery is generating increasing questions about possible risks for human health and environment, due to the lack of an in-depth assessment [...]

Nanomaterials can influence living biological systems with nanometer sensitivity

Sabella S., Brunetti V., Maiorano G., Rizzello L., Sorce B., Vecchio G., Galeone A., Cingolani R., Pompa P.P., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

We show the different response of human neuroblastoma cells line to gold surfaces with different levels of nanoroughness, finding out that neurons are capable to sense and actively respond to these nanotopography features, with a [...]

Magnetically Induced Drop Movement on Nanorough Micropatterned Nanocomposites

Milionis A., Fragouli D., Anyfantis G.C., Bayer I., Cingolani R., Athanassiou A., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

Hybrid organic/inorganic surfaces are engineered by exploiting photo-lithographically tailored patterns of SU-8 polymer nanocomposites containing 2% wt colloidal nanoparticles of iron oxide. The role of the magnetic nanoparticles has two aspects. The first one is [...]

Selective Separation of Oil from Water via Superhydrophobic Magnetic Foams

Fragouli D., Bayer I., Bertoni G., Calcagnile P., Anyfantis G.C., Cingolani R., Athanassiou A., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

We demonstrate an inexpensive and very facile technique, of forming magneticaly actuated superhydrophobic/superoleophilic foams. Specifically, a simple commercial polyurethane foam is used as a substrate on which a small amount of toluene solution containing colloidal [...]

Directed assembly of magnetic nanoparticles in polymers: the formation of anisotropic plastic films containing aligned nanowires

Fragouli D., Buonsanti R., Villafiorita Monteleone F., Bertoni G., Sangregorio C., Torre B., Cingolani R., Athanassiou A., Italian Institute of Technology, IT

We present a study of the dynamical formation of spatially localized arrays of 1-D aligned magnetic nanowires in plastic films. We demonstrate a straightforward technique, easily reproducible, where by specifically varying experimental conditions we can [...]